Picture frame



- J. E. SANDERS PICTURE FRAME July 30, 1957 2 Shegts-Sheet 1 Filed Aug.15, 1955 EZL 5 I J y 1957 J. E. SANDERS 2,800,735

PICTURE FRAME Filed Aug. 15, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 nited States Patent2,800,735 PICTURE FRAME John E. Sanders, Evanston, Ill. ApplicationAugust 15, 1955, Serial No. 528,282

Claims. (Cl. 40-154) This invention relates to an easily assembledpicture or display frame, and more particularly relates to a paper boarddisplay frame having a rigid wood frame appearance for use inaccentuting a display of merchandise for advertising purposes in a showwindow, in a showcase, on a counter, etc., which frame is easilyassembled on the job from flat precut blanks that form a compactshipping a right angular association with the top and bottom members orrails and fastened thereto by staples or other suitble means.

The tubular members or rails may be of triangular cross-sectional shapeto provide the effect of the most conventional type of picture frame, ortrapezoidal in the shape to give depth to the picture frame. Thetriangular shaped type of tubular member may be provided along its inneredge with a channel-shaped member to provide depth for the pictureframe. Box frames are thereby provided.

It is thus to be understood that the top, bottom and side members orrails may be easily formed on the job from their respective flatpre-scored and precut blanks into tubular shape, and then easilyassembled to form a completed picture frame.

Therefore, a feature of the invention is to provide a knock down compactset of blanks which are easily set up by window decorators or the liketo form three dimensional display frames which heretofore had to befactory assembled and formed a bulky easily damaged shipping package.

It is then an object of this invention to provide an improved picture ordisplay frame simulating a wooden frame for use in displayingmerchandise or the like, wherein the several parts of the picture framemay be simply and economically manufactured from paper board,

Another object of this invention is to provide a large or giant sizepicture or display frames formed from easily assembled precut and scoredpaper blanks.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a picture ordisplay frame formed from a plurality of blanks of corrugated paperboard, wherein the blanks'may-be simply and easily secured to define thetop, bottom and side members of the frame, and simply assembled andfastened to form a completed picture or display frame."

A further feature of this invention resides in the provision of apicture or display frame constructed of tubular corrugated paper boardmembers in such a manner as to give the effect of depth to the frame.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will beapparent from the following detailed disclosure, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein like referencenumerals refer to like parts, in which,

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a picture or display frame constructedin accordance with the principles of the invention; I

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken substantiallyalong line II-II of Figure l, and looking in the direction of the arrow;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken substantiallyalong line III-IH in Figure 1, and looking in the direction of thearrows;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary end perspective view of one of the tubularmembers before assembly ofthe picture fame;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view of a blank used in forming thetubular member in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan view of a blank used in forming othertubular members of the picture frame;

Figure 7 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken through one ofthe tubular members used in the picture frame and provided with achannel-shaped member to give depth to the picture frame;

Figure 8 is a perspective View of a picture or display frame,illustrating a different form of the invention;

Figure 9 is an enlarged transverse sectional view, taken substantiallyalong line IX-[X in Figure 8; and

Figure 10 is a fragmentary plan view of a blank used in the formation ofsome of the tubular members in the embodiment of Figure 8.

As shown on the drawings:

As seen in Figure 1, a picture or display frame, gen erally designatedby the numeral 11, is illustrated having top and bottom members or rails13, 13, and a pair of side members or rails 14, 14 assembled to providea picture frame. The top member 13, the bottom member 13, and the sidemembers 14, are formed as tubular members or rails from blanks ofrelatively stiff material, preferably corrugated paper board.

The top and bottom members 13 are each formed from a blank of sheetmaterial that is initially rectangular in shape as seen in Figure 5. Theblank when folded will define a triangularly shaped tubular member, andpreferably right triangular shaped. The blank, generally designated bythe numeral 15, is provided with three parallel spaced fold or scorelines 16, 17 and 18, extending longitudinally of the blank. The foldlines define a plurality of panels which ultimately define an upstandingvertical side or rear panel 19, a hypotenuse side or front panel 20, abase or outer panel 21, and an overlapping locking flap 22. A line ofcut 23 extends angularly from each end of the blank beginning at theextreme opposite ends of the fold line 17 inwardly to a point along thefold line 16 to thereby define a tringular shaped connecting flap 24.

In assembling the blank 15 to define the tubular top and bottom membersor rails 13 the panels are folded along the fold lines and the lockingflap 22 is overlapped over the vertical side or rear panel 19 as seen inFigure 4. The flap 22 is then suitably fastened to the vertical side orrear panel 19, such as by stapling, gluing or stitching. The connectingflap 24 is disposed in a vertical position in planar alignment with thevertical side or rear panel 19 and as again seen in Figure 4.

The side members or rails 14 are formed from a blank indicated generallyby the numeral 25 in Figure 6 of corrugated paper board or the like.

The blank 25 is generally rectangularly shaped having three parallelspaced and longitudinally extending fold or score lines 26, 27 and 28.The fold lines define a plurality of connected panels and in connectionwith the triangularly shaped tubular side members or rails 14, a

vertical side or rear panel 29, a hypotenuse side or front panel 30, abase or outer panel 31, and an overlapping locking flap 32. In assemblyof the side members or rails 14 a pair of blanks 25 is folded along thefold lines to the shape as seen in Figure 2 with thelocking flap 32folded inside the vertical side or rear panel 29 and suitably fastenedthereto by stappling, stitching, or gluing.

Referring again to Figure 4, it is seen that the tubular members orrails such as 13' to define the top and bottom members of the frameassembly, is provided at each end with a V-notch or opening at the endsof the front panel 20 provided by the connecting fiap 24 being removedfrom the hypotenuse or front panel side 20 of the member. The line ofcut 23 in the blank 15 is judiciously placed so that this V-notch oropening, formed when the blank has been folded into the shape of thetriangular shaped member as in Figure 4, is of such size as to snuglyreceive the ends of the side members or rails 14 as seen in Figure 2.

In the assembly of the picture frame 11, the end of a side member 14 ispositioned in the notched end of a top or bottom member or rail 13 asseen in Figure 2, wherein the very end of the side member 14 abutsagainst the base or outer panel 21 of the tubular member or rail 13. Theside or rear panel 29 of the member 14 juxtaposes the vertical side orrear panel 19 and the connecting flap 24 of the member or rail 13. Theconnecting flap 24 is then suitably fastened to the panel 29 of themember 14 by any suitable type of fastener, such as indicated by thenumerals 33 in Figure 3. A second tubular side member or rail 14 issimilarly attached to the other end of the member or rail 13 and asecond member or rail 13 is then positioned at the free end of themembers or rails 14 and attached thereto to complete the assembly andprovide a picture or display frame as seen in Figure 1. While the lengthof the top and bottom members or rails 13 are shown to be longer thanthe side members or rails 14, it is to be understood that the length ofthe side members 14 may be longer in some cases than the length of thetop and bottom members 13, or the entire picture frame 11 may be turnedin another direction.

Where it is desired to give depth to the picture frame 11 in Figure l,channel-shaped members such as indicated by the numeral 34 in Figure 7may be suitably attached to the vertical or rear panel 19, as well as tothe rear panels 29 of the side members or rails 14. As seen in Figure 7,one of the legs of the channel member 34 is suitably attached to thepanel 29 of the tubular member 13, while the other leg is in spacedrelation thereto by the horizontal bight portion, which extends incontinuation of the apex formed by the panel 19 and hypotenuse sidepanel 20 of the member 13. Thus, it is seen that with little additionalwork, the channel member 34 may be attached to the top, bottom and sidemembers of the picture frame 11 to provide a box frame.

Another manner in providing depth to a picture frame is shown in theembodiment of Figures 8, 9 and 10, wherein a picture frame 35 isassembled from top and bottom members or rails 36, 36 and side membersor rails 37, 37 The top and bottom members or rails 36 are formed from ablank 38 as seen in Figure 10.

The blank 38 is generally rectangularly shaped having a plurality ofparallel spaced fold or score lines 39, 40, 41 and 42 extendinglongitudinally of the blank 38 to define in connection with the tubularmembers 36 an overlapping flap 43, a base or outer panel 44, an inclinedor from the end edges of the blank 38 and at the ends of the fold lines40 inwardly across the front panel 45 at an angle to a point on the foldlines 41. A second line of cut 50 joins the line of cut 49 and extendsfrom the fold line 41 to the fold line 42 across the inner panel 46.Therefore, it is seen that a connecting flap 51 is defined by the linesof cut 49 and 50, the fold line 42 and the free end edge of the blank38.

Although not specifically illustrated, it is understood that the sidetubular members 37 may be formed from a blank identical with the blank38, wherein the lines of cut 49 and 50 have not been made. Of course,the length of the blank may not be the same as blank 38. But it isunderstood that the cross-sectional shape of the side members 37 issubstantially identical with the cross-sectional shape of the top andbottom members 36.

In assembly of this embodiment, the side members 37 will be positionedin the open ends of the top and bottom members 36 in a similar fashionas the side members 14 in the top and bottom members 13 of the pictureframe 11, and then the locking flap 51 will be suitably fastened to theback panel of the side members 37. Thus, a rigid structure will beprovided in the form of a picture or display frame, wherein due to thetrapezoidal cross-sectional shape, depth is given to the frame 35similar to the embodiment of Figure 7.

In viewof the foregoing, it is seen that a picture or display frame foruse in accentuating the advertising of merchandise by retailers isprovided which may be economically and simply manufactured of corrupatedpaper board, and easily and quickly assembled for use.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effectedwithout departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the presentinvention, but it is understood that this application is to be limitedonly by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A frame adapted to be easily assembled from fiat paper board or thelike strips comprising first and second pairs of rails, each rail beingcomposed of an elongated rectangular strip of sheet material withlongitudinal fold lines defining panels, each blank being folded on thefold lines into hollow tubular form with front, rear, and outer panels,said first pair of rails having lines of cut across the front panelportions thereof to isolate fastening tabs at the ends of the rails andto provide openings in the ends of the front panels, the fastening tabsof said first pair of rails lapping the rear panels of the second pairof rails and the ends of the second pair of rails projecting into thehollow interiors of the first pair of rails through the openings in thefront panels thereof and being bottomed on the outer panels of the firstpair of rails, and means securing the tabs of the first pair of rails tothe rear panels of the second pair of rails for connecting the first andsecond pairs of rails in fixed frame-defining relation with the innerpanels of the adjacent rails abutting each other.

2. A display frame or the like adapted to be easily assembled from fiatstrips of sheet material which comprises first and second pairs ofhollow tubular rails of triangular cross-section, each rail beingcomposed of an elongated rectangular blank of sheet material withlongitudinal fold lines defining panels, each blank being folded on thefold lines to provide the hollow tubular rails with rear panels, outerpanels and inclined front panels extending from the outer panels to therear panels, said first pair of rails having lines of cut extendingalong the inclined front panels diagonally inward from the ends of therails to isolate triangular fastening tabs and provide V-shaped openingsin the ends of the inclined front panels, said second pair of railshaving the ends thereof inserted through said openings and bottomed onthe outer panels of the first pair of rails, said fastening tabs lapping-the rear panels of the second pair of rails, and

fasteners securing the fastening tabs to said rear panels of the secondpair of rails for holding the first and second pairs of rails inframe-defining position with adjacent inclined panel portions inabutment.

3. The frame of claim 2 having strips attached to the rear panels andextending rearWardly from the rear ends of the inclined panels to givethe appearance of depth to the frame.

4. A display frame or the like adapted to be easily assembled from flatstrips of sheet material which comprises first and second pairs of railseach formed from elongated rectangular strips of sheet material withfold lines defining panels, each rail being hollow and having atrapezoidal shape in cross-section with a rear panel, an outer panel, aninner panel, and an inclined front panel between the inner and outerpanels, said first pair of rails having lines of cut extendingdiagonally inward from the ends thereof across the inclined front panelsand thence transversely across the inner panels thereof to provideconnecting tabs extending upright from the'rear panels and to provideopenings at the ends of the rails complementary in shape to the secondpair of rails, said second pair of rails being inserted through saidopenings and lapped by said tabs, and means securing the tabs to thesecond pair of rails for holding the rails in assembled 6 frame-definingposition with the inclined panels and inner panels of adjacent rails inabutting relation.

5. A knock-down set of blanks adapted to form a display frame or thelike comprising a first pair of fiat elongated rectangular strips ofsheet material each having longitudinal fold lines defining panels toform polygonal tubes adapted to serve as rails at the opposite ends ofsaid frame, at least one panel of each blank having a line of cut at theend thereof isolating attachment tabs and providing notched openings, asecond pair of flat elongated rectangular strips of sheet materialhaving fold lines defining panels to form polygonal tubes serving as theother sides of the frame and mating With the first pair of strips, saidnotched ends of the first pair of tubes snugly receiving the ends of thesecond pair of tubes and said attachment tabs adapted to overlie thesecond pair of tubes to be readily attached thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

